Psychedelics have gone from a symbol of the hippie counterculture to a serious conversation in state legislatures and medical research labs.This week on The Hometown Holler, the Fellas chat with, Gina Giorgio founder of Carolinas for Care, about the growing movement behind psychedelic-assisted therapy, North Carolina's bipartisan HEAL Act, the mental health crisis facing veterans, and what the science actually says about treatments like psilocybin and MDMA.Whether you're skeptical or curious, this is a conversation worth having.Become a sustainer today!Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/thehometownholler/membershipSubstack: https://substack.com/@thehometownhollerWebsite: https://www.thehometownholler.com/

What does it mean to be the best state for business... and the worst state for workers? Quinn and Daniel sit down with Nikki Marín Baena, co-founder of Siembra NC, to talk about wage theft, workers' rights, immigration, and the growing movement to build a North Carolina that works for ordinary people. From helping workers recover hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen wages to organizing communities across the state, Nikki is on the front lines of the fight for working people in North Carolina.

Learn more about Siembra NC at www.siembranc.org

Raised in the Jehovah's Witness, Naomi Dix was knocking on doors and leading prayer meetings by the time she was 13. Today she's one of only five drag queens in history to own a gay nightclub. The road between those two things is one of the wildest stories we've heard at the Holler.

This Pride Month, we talk to the Durham native and Tar Heel drag icon about what drag actually is (and isn't), building queer community in places that weren't ready for it, and the night her drag show made national headlines for the worst possible reason.

What happens when someone spends more than a decade behind bars, survives nearly 1,000 days in solitary confinement, and comes home determined to change the system that failed him?

This week on The Hometown Holler, Quinn and Daniel sit down with Kerwin Pittman, formerly incarcerated advocate, nonprofit leader, and the man turning a former North Carolina prison into a first-of-its-kind reentry campus designed to help people stay free, find work, and rebuild their lives. From public safety to second chances, this is a must hear story!

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Nobody told Auntie Bev she was supposed to be famous. She was just in her living room, doing a favor for her grandson... and somehow that turned into 3 million people waiting on her next word. Beverly Mahone, better known as Auntie Bev, is a Durham educator who built one of the most wholesome corners of TikTok one vocabulary word at a time. This week she visits the Holler to talk words, wisdom, and how a little ebullience goes a long wayIn this episode, we get into:-How a grandson’s challenge sparked a viral movement-The first word that blew up (and why it shocked her)-Why expanding your vocabulary can change your life, not just your speech-The real reason we lose words as we get older-How to “cuss with class” (yes, seriously)-Using language to navigate politics, culture, and everyday life-The power of confidence, communication, and showing up at any ageJoin the Holler:Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/TheHometownHollerSubstack: https://substack.com/@thehometownhollerWebsite: https://www.thehometownholler.com/

Retired 82nd Airborne Captain and member of Veterans for Responsible Leadership, Scott Peoples, joins the Holler for a Memorial Day conversation about service, democracy, political division, and what it means to defend the Constitution after taking off the uniform.They chat about what Memorial Day actually means beyond beach trips and cookouts, to jumping out of planes at Fort Bragg, the growing politicization of the military, and why veterans across the country are speaking out about protecting democratic norms.Scott shares the story that inspired him to join the Army after 9/11, what life inside the 82nd Airborne was really like, and why he believes veterans still have a responsibility to serve long after active duty ends.

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Senator Mark Kelly joins the Hometown Holler to talk about space, war, and what it's like to have the president call for your execution.

Arguably the most interesting member of the US Senate, Kelly has been to space four times and flown combat missions over Iraq and Kuwait. Recently, President Trump called for his execution after Kelly made a video reminding service members they don't have to follow illegal orders. We discuss the war with Iran, the president's threats, his ongoing court battle over his military rank and pension, the ICE detention of a service member's spouse, and how he handles all the stress that comes with the job—at age 62, he's on track to complete 20,000 push-ups this year.

Mark Kelly is the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona, first elected in 2020. He sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Intelligence Committee. He is the husband of former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.

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Corporate influence, stock trades, citizens united - oh my!This week the on the Hometown Holler the fellas sit down with political finance watchdog and Stocking the Capitol founder Nico Agosta for a conversation about stock trading, corporate PACs, and why so many Americans feel like Congress is working for everyone except them.From insider trading allegations to campaign cash, Nico breaks down how members of Congress get money, who funds them, and why transparency matters more than ever. The crew also puts North Carolina’s congressional delegation under the microscope with rapid-fire grades from the Political Integrity Project, for Thom Tillis, Ted Budd, Don Davis, Deborah Ross, Virginia Foxx, Tim Moore, and the rest of the NC delegation.If you’ve ever wondered why nothing in Washington seems to change, this conversation might explain a lot.Join the Holler and become a sustainer today!Patreon: / membership Substack: https://substack.com/@thehometownhollerWebsite: https://www.thehometownholler.com/

A few years ago, Trae Crowder went out to the woods, pointed his phone at his face, and started yelling. Hundreds of millions of views later, he's still basically doing that... just with a shirt on now.

Trae joins the Holler to talk about the origin of the Liberal Redneck (North Carolina played a bigger role than you'd think), what it's like to be the guy who's supposed to represent the South to people who've never been here, and why he used to text JD Vance.

We also get into losing friends over politics, what's actually wrong with the Democratic Party, why Hollywood still can't quite figure out what to do with him, and whether rednecks are the one group nobody gets cancelled for mocking.

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This week on The Hometown Holler, the fellas sit down with Governor Josh Stein to break down what’s happening inside the General Assembly, why billions of dollars are on the line, and how decisions being made right now could shape the future of our state. We get into it all, from teacher pay and tax cuts to data centers popping up in folks’ backyards and who’s actually footing the bill. If you’ve been wondering why things feel stuck… or who’s really benefiting… this is the conversation you need to hear.

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In this episode:

Why NC hasn’t passed a real budget in years

Where billions of dollars could go (and who gets left out)

The truth about tax cuts and who actually benefits

Data centers, energy costs, and what’s coming next

Rural NC, jobs, and what growth should actually look like

What it’s like being Governor in this moment